TOP 5 Upcoming Amazing Zelda-Like Games of 2022 & 2023

by Mike Alexander / Lists, Articles / 19 Apr 2021

Many gamers have fond memories of exploring Hyrule in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. You could spend hours just finding secrets on the island or getting lost without ever completing objectives. For some of us, including me, this was also their first introduction to gaming as a whole. So, whenever a game is released that emulates that magic from classic Zelda games whether through their visuals or gameplay mechanics, you can be sure that there is an army of people just waiting to jump in and experience it. You can see some of those games on this list of the Top 5 Upcoming Amazing Zelda-Like Games of 2022 and 2023, and plan out which game you will purchase next to give you that hit of nostalgia.

Cloudscape

In classic Zelda fashion, Cloudscape begins with a young warrior who wakes up in a mysterious place with no knowledge of how he got there. Developed by Konitama and published by Top Hat Studios, this open-world survival game will have you explore the island, create and manage a farm, and fight off the creatures of the night until you have enough materials to escape. After that, there are many more islands for you to discover with all kinds of characters to meet and interact with. Across all of these islands, you will tame and manage farm animals, catch bugs, and scavenge for crafting materials to make a life for yourself while you uncover the mysteries of the world. Get ready for adventure when Cloudscape launches on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC in 2023.

Dwerve

Developed and published by Half Human Games, Dwerve puts an interesting spin on the classic Zelda formula. You’re still exploring a massive island full of secrets, but combat in Dwerve combines standard melee with tower defense elements. Build up turrets and barriers as waves of monsters attack and try to reach you from your entrenched position. Battle your way through elaborate dungeons that contain mystical artifacts that you can add to your arsenal, further improving your monster fighting arsenal. You can also upgrade all of your weapons and gadgets as you progress. Get your turrets and traps ready, Dwerve launches on Nintendo Switch and PC sometime in 2022.

Elementallis

Ivan Ruiz Lozano’s game Elementallis takes its Zelda inspiration and expands it to cover a magnificent world full of elemental magic. In this world, the elements have gone rogue, and it is up to you to wrangle them back and restore order to a world descending into chaos. You will use and combine the elements to engage in thrilling combat and solve thoughtful puzzles to progress in the fascinating story campaign. Each of the 8 dungeons is chock full of secrets and power ups just waiting to be discovered, and the 8 different biomes are home to all kinds of characters that you can get to know and take quests from. Set the elements right when Elementallis launches on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC in June of 2022.

Loot River

Utilizing a highly impressive art style that combines 3D animations with 2D backgrounds, straka.studio’s Loot River might be one of the most anticipated Zelda-like games coming this year. In it, you will explore many procedurally generated dungeons of increasing difficulty, using a platform manipulation mechanic that looks very cool in action. As the platforms move, there is a surprisingly detailed water effect around them that adds a level of depth and realism to a game that is presented as a fairly simplistic top-down game. These platforms fit together like puzzle pieces, and can also be used for combat to separate or bring yourself closer to your enemies. The included roguelite elements provide a stronger incentive to play carefully, as death will cause you to respawn in a brand-new procedurally generated dungeon. Loot River launches for Xbox consoles and PC in 2022.

Hunt the Night

Developed by Moonlight Games and Published by DANGEN Entertainment, Hunt the Night looks to be a thrilling action-adventure game with retro stylings and inspiration. By its looks, Hunt the Night is a classic 16-bit, top-down action game with awesome combat. However, closer inspection of the project reveals it to be a game that takes its inspiration from Bloodborne and Dark Souls, both in terms of its world and how the action plays out. Combat relies on skill and timing rather than blind luck, and the dark fantasy setting is almost nightmare-inducing. A game inspired by not just Zelda, but also by some of the best action-adventure games of the modern era is definitely something fans of all of those titles should keep their eyes on. Hunt the Night launches for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. The release date is yet to be announced, but many expect it sometime in 2022.

Mike Alexander

Mike has been playing video games since he was able to hold a controller, having been fascinated by Sonic 2 on his mom’s Sega Genesis. That fascination and passion for the art form has grown exponentially nearly 30 years later, and he doesn’t see that fading away anytime soon.
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